Trousers creaser



H. M. KRUSE.

TROUSERS CREASER May 14, 1946.

Filed Oct. 19; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4/ nun/+05.-

34 Mm M- Klaus/5,

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y 14, 6 H. M. KRUSE 2,400,236

TROUSERS CREASER Filed 00 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Efrain/EH5.

' Patented May 14, 1946 UNITED STAT-E s PATENT OFFICE TROUSERS on AsErtHerman M. Kruse, Webster Groves, M0. Application octob er 19, 1945,Serial No. 623,221

Claims. (01. 223-63) The present invention relates to a trouserscreaser. x

More particularly, the inventioncomprises a readily adjustable frameworkfor insertion'into the leg of a pair of trousers and capable of beingexpanded to apply a proper tension to the cloth to eliminate thewrinkles therefrom and to provide creases therein. I

. It is an objectv of the invention to. provide a framework of thiskind. with a particularly desirable securing means to hold the parts inadjusted position. ,7 I

It is a further object to provide a trousers creaser embodying anexpansible framework, preferably of metal, with a clamping, means tohold the parts in adjusted position, which clamping means maybe engagedat any point of adjustment, without injuring the parts. I

It is a. further object of the invention to provide a trousers creaserthat is expansible and thathas a clamping means, all ofv which may beconstructed inexpensively. i

The drawings show two such types of trousers creasers, bothembodyingthe, principles'of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device with the clamping means open;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the clamping means closed; 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken view of the top of. the device with theclamping means open;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the clamp-' ing means closed; Ia

Fig. 5 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the clamp ing means, taken on theline 6- 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a transverse view through the clamp ing means, taken on theline of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a view of a part of the clamping means;

Fig. 15, is an enlarged perspective view of the clamping means closed.

Referring to the construction shown on sheet 1, the trousers creasercomprises two side frames, generally indicated at 20 and 2|. The member20 has an, elongated middle, section 22, a top section 23, and a bottomsection 24. The top and bottom sections extend transversely to themiddle section 22. The other'member 2| has a middle section 26, a topsection 21, and a bottom section 28. These two members 20 and 2| may bemade identical. These two members 20 and 2| are laid alongside eachother,-as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the upper parts 23 and 21overlie and the lower parts 24 and 28 overlie. A sleeve 30 is rivetedtothe free end of the top part 21 of the member 2 I. This sleeveslidably receives the end of the top-part 23 of the member 22.

The free end of the top part 23 of the member 20 extends into the bodyportion of a sleeve 32 and is riveted thereto at 33. The sleeve 32 maybe formed of a generally U-shaped stamping having its end partsoverturned at'their top ed es 34 to form anenclosed sleeve thereat. Atthe other end, the member 32 has two upstanding ears 35. .This sleeve issecured to the free end Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a trouserscreaser with another embodiment of the clamping means in closedposition;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the clamping means open;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged broken view of the top of the trousers creaserwith the clamping means open;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line |2|2 of Fig. 11 with the clamping meansopen;

Fig. 13 is a similar view with the clamping means closed;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamping means open; and

of the top part 23 of the member 20 and slidably receive the top part121 of the member 2|. Between the portions 34 and the ears 35, themember 32 has upstanding side walls, as appear in Fig. 8. The clampingmember as a whole is only slightly wider than the thickness of the twotop members 23 and 21.

The two ears 35 receive between them a piVot 39 on which is pivotallymounted a bell crank shaped spreader or actuator 40. This memberprovides a handle portion 4| and a beveled actuating portion 42.Reference to Figs. 3 and 4 shows that the spreader or actuating part 42is disposed so that, when the handle is depressed from the position ofFig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, the spreader will wedge itself between the twotop portions 23 and 2'| and force them laterally against the side wallsof the clamping member 32. This action is also indicated by thedifferences between Figs. 6'and 7. The overturned edges 34 of the sleeveprovide'a stop for the locking handle 4| when it is turned to lockingposition.

The two bottom members 24 and 28 are similarly joined by a sleeve 45similar to the sleeve 30, and a clamping member 46 similar to theclamping member 32. The clamping member 46 has a bell crank actuator 41.

Figs. 9- 5 show a simplified clamping device. The two members 20 and 2|are identical with those previously shown. The member 20 has top andbottom parts 23 and 24 that are the same as those previously described.The member 2| has top and bottom parts 2! and 28, identical with thosedescribed. The sleeves 30 and 45 are the same in this type of trouserscreaser.

In this type, the clamping member is designated at 50. As'shown in Figs.14 and 15, it includes a stamping having a rectangular cross sectionenlarging in size toward one end. It passes over the two portions 23 and2'! and is pivotally attached to the member 23 by a rivet 5|. In itsformation, it is stamped so as to afford a tongue 53 depending mediallyfrom its top wall toward its larger end. This tongue is beveled andcomprises the actuator of this type of clamping member. The side wallsof the clamp are spaced apart only slightly more than the thicknesses ofthe two members 23 and 27. When the clamping member is in its upperposition, as shown in Figs. 10, l1 and 14, the tongue 53 is out ofactuating position and is substantially free of the two members 23 and21. Pressure on the top of the larger end of the clamping member willpivot it downwardly about its pivot 5| and cause the tongue 53 topenetrate between the two members 23 and 21 and spread them against theside walls of the clamping device, whereupon they are secured tightlyinto position.

The two lower members 24 and 28 are similarly joined by a clampingmember 60.

In the use of either of thetwo trousers creasers, the assembly isinserted into the trousers leg, so that the bottom parts preferablyproject slightly below the bottom of the trousers leg. They are manuallyspread as far apart as conveniently they may be, and then the twoactuated to locking position. In the first type, this latter involvesthe depression of the handles 4| and 47 which causes the actuatingwedges to spread the members against the side wall of the clampingdevice where they are'securely held. A similar result is obtained in theother type wherein the depression of the clamping members-forces thetongues down to produce the spreading action.

It will be seen that these mechanisms provide an unstepped clampingmeans that may be engaged in any suitable position. Where the parts aremade of metal, there is substantially no wear, as the actuatorspassbetween the strips without penetrating them. The tension put onto thetrousers by the frames eliminates wrinkles, and the long portions 22 and26 are narrow enough at their outer edges to crease the parts of thetrousers drawn thereagainst.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a trousers creaser, two relatively movable frame members havingend parts that overlap and are slidable one along the other, and aclamping device for clamping the end parts in selected position, saidclamping device having sides supported alongside the overlapping parts,and having an actuator disposed opposite the interfaces of the saidoverlapping parts, said actuator being movable between said parts toseparate them with wedging action against the clamping device.

2. In a trousers creaser, two relatively movable frame members havingend parts that overlap and are slidable one along the other, and aclamping device for clamping said end parts in selected position, saidclamping device having a body portion attached to one overlapping partand slidably receiving the other, said body portion having a side wallon the outside of the slidable overlapping part, an actuator on the bodyportion of the clamping device and movable from a free position'to aposition between the interfaces of the overlapping parts to wedge theslidable part against the side of the clamping device.

3. In a trousers creaser, two relatively movable frame members havingend parts that overlap,

- retaining means secured to the free end of the clamping members arefirst end part and slidably receiving the second, a clamping meanssecured to the free end of the second part and slidably receiving thefirst part, said clamping means holding the parts side by side, anactuator on the clamping means disposed to be moved from a position freeof the interfaces between the parts to a position wedging between said.interfaces, said actuator being thereby adapted to separate the partsand securely engage them, on the clamping means, against relativemovement.

4. In a trousers creaser, a pair of relatively slidable overlapping endparts, clamping means to hold the parts in selected position, saidclamping means having a body portion secured to one member, and a sidewall extending to the outer side of the other member, to hold themembers to limited separation, an actuator comprising a tongueengageable between the members to urge the said other member intofrictional engagement with the adjacent side wall of the clamping means,said actuator being pivotally mounted on the body member for movementinto and out'of engaging position.

5. In a trousers creaser, a pair of relatively slidable overlapping endparts, clamping means to hold the parts in selected position, saidclamping means having a body portion secured to one member, and a sidewall extending to the outer side of the other member, to holdthe membersto limited separation,sai-d body member having an extension extendingacross the two overlapping parts, an actuating tongue depending fromsaid extension for removable engagement between the overlapping parts,and said body member being pivotally secured to its member for effectingthe engagement of the actuator.

6. In a trousers creaser, a pair of overlapping relatively slidableparts, clamping means to hold them together, said means comprising ahollow body member surrounding both members, and pivoted at one end toone member, for rocking movement thereon, a tongue depending inwardlyfrom the body member for engagement between the overlapping parts, thehollow bod member being sufiiciently large to permit pivoting thereof towithdraw the tongue from engagement.

HERMAN M. KRUSE.

